The comeback kids
Meet the native animals being reintroduced across the globe
With many species in decline and at risk of extinction, conservationists have been re-establishing wildlife in its original habitat in a bid to restore fragile ecosystems. Here are just some of the animal heroes doing their bit to help keep our world wild…
BEAVERS
TASMANIAN DEVIL
For the first time in 3,000 years, the protected
island species is in mainland Australia. A combination of human and dingo activity is thought responsible for their decline, but now
the devils are back on the map – at a New South Wales’ sanctuary. The size of a small dog, these carnivorous marsupials are famously ferocious, flying into a rage when threatened,
fighting for a mate or defending their food. They emerge at night to eat frogs, birds, fish and insects with their sharp teeth and powerful
bites. They live about five years in the wild.
By bark stripping, dam building and tree cutting, these large, amphibious rodents have the ability to help reverse problems such as flooding, poor water quality and declining biodiversity. After being hunted to extinction for their fur 500 years ago, they have been reintroduced to the south west of England, including in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Just three busy beavers in Ladock managed to build effective flood prevention, clean the water and recreate habitats for other animals.
EURASIAN WOLVES
A long history of hunting meant this grey wolf had vanished from most western European countries by the early 20th Century. Now back from the brink and a protected species, numbers have grown to about 12,000 in the mountainous areas of Croatia and Bulgaria, and as far west as the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. They prey on wild boar, deer, livestock, frogs and hares. They’re distinguished from their North American cousins by their longer ears and the howl they use to warn off wolves from other packs.
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE
Also known as a sea eagle, Britain’s largest bird of prey is making a comeback on the Isle of Wight. The last pair native to the south of England bred here in 1780, and since 2019 the aim has been to relocate 60 juveniles from Scotland over a five year period. With an impressive 2.5m wingspan, white-tailed eagles are known to fly more than 200km in search of food (fish, rabbits and hares) and can survive up to 40 years in the wild.
MACAWS
Last October, Argentina’s first wild-born macaws in 150 years hatched at Iberá National Park. Rewilding Argentina’s red-and-green macaw project, begun in 2015, has seen the species reintroduced at the reserve, which now has 15 birds, including some breeding pairs. They lay up to four eggs at a time, but only the strongest chicks survive. In the wild, you can see flocks of 30 or more in nesting season, November to March, and hear their noisy chatter from high in the trees.